 |
|
mrmitchell
|
|
There's a couple derelict industrial buildings around here that deserve trashing, nor are the numerous low-income housing developments pretty, but seeing the pictures here makes me glad for the architecture I've got to be had.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Buck Birdseed
|
 |
Khoon Ki Pyasi Dayan (1988)
Nov 2000
time: 05:34
|
|
I can't believe how many of you have nominated marvellous béton brut structures from the 60s, surely some of the most exciting and dynamic architecture of the century. Brutalism may well be my favourite movement of the century and I've found the majority of the buildings chosen so far to be marvellous.
In Stockholm, I've got two obvious nominations.
Firstly, Heron City in Kungens Kurva, a cuboid glass monstrosity full of garish consumerism with no redeeming social or artistic values whatsoever; a capitalist equivalent of Csaucsescu's Palace if you will.
(can't find a decent exterior pic, sorry)
The other is the tube station at the Old Town, which for some inexplicable reason is placed above ground, in a way which totally ruins the view.
Again no good exterior pics, but this should give you a pretty good idea what the problem is (the station is just ahead).
Functionally worst in Stockholm is the central station, which through the associated railway lines has ruined large swathes of prime beachfront parkland. The building is bearable in itself though, but you got to hate that bastard Nils Ericsson having a statue in front. North and South stations forever!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
molly bloom
|
 |
Lundenwic
Oct 2001
time: 15:34
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Buck Birdseed
It's an achingly dull material. Concrete lives, breathes, changes colour with the weather, has structure, depth, is incredibly flexible in molding and very, very versatile. I love it. Brutalism forever. |
Bricks are better- they don't get stained by rusty ironwork or corroded steel fittings, they don't change colour from grey to dark grey when it's raining, they don't have a tendency to fall apart because of skimping on the quality of materials when the monstrous edifuce is being built an dthey tend to form buildings that are on a modest humane scale, and don't try to bludgeon the populace into submission.
Admittedly this is partly to do with misconceived notions about what concrete 'should' look like, based on misinterpretations of surviving pieces of Roman architecture.
But good grief, the Romans knew and used coloured concrete! They had sunny weather! They didn't llive in the temperate north where summer is three days in late July with minimum rainfall. And they certainly didn't have postwar town and city councils attempting to rehouse populations in vertical slums with deck access ideal for door to door vandalism, drug delivery and mugging.
I think concrete is a fine building material, in the right place- Tel Aviv's White City, small scale housing blocks, well-designed non-residential buildings, but monolithic tower blocks and multi-storey carparks in historic city centres?
Nay. Come friendly bombs and fall on post war nasty and cheap brutalism, and while you're at it, scour out the unlovely undecorated interiors of the Jubilee Line extension tube stations in south and east London.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
mrmitchell
|
|
Where do people find such ugly Wal-Marts? I mean, Camden's isn't a peice of art, but it's very bearable.
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:34.
Apolyton Time is 00:34. |
top of page
|
|
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
02-03-2005 08:53
Attachment: 
but sick 
.jpg)
|
